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The thought of Saint being held captive by that monster…and knowing the things he would do to Saint.
“Why are you only coming to me now? What took you so long to get here?” I can’t keep the anger from my voice. She has wasted so much time.
“’Cause I tried every other option we had before I wasforcedto come here. I don’t want to work with you, but it appears I have no other choice. I knew Alek had close ties to this place, so I knew where to look. You’re lucky you kept yourkindnessa secret,” she mocks, glaring at Alek, but she’s right. No one has come looking for us here because they don’t know Alek has connections to the orphanage.
But none of that matters. “We need to go. Now,” I affirm, ready to flee this very second.
When Alek grips my forearm, preventing me from moving an inch, I’m prepared to fight until one of us is dead. “Don’t be stupid!” he shouts, attempting to subdue me as I fight him. “This is a trap.”
“Let me go, Alek, or I will kill you myself!” It’s not an empty threat. I won’t allow him to stand in my way, not when Saint needs me.
“Please, listen. If what Zoey says is true, then there will be eyes all over Russia. This is worse than I thought. With Oscar and Astra dead, we had half a chance. But if they’re not…”
There’s no need for him to continue. I can fill in the blanks.
“They will do anything to find me.” He’s pleading for me to see reason, but he’s shit out of luck. I refuse to stay hidden when I know Saint is alive.
Just as I break free, Zoey starts a slow clap. She catches us both unawares, unsure what has sparked a round of applause. “Your arrogance knows no bounds, Alek,” she explains, stating the obvious. So what does it have to do with Saint?
I watch as she saunters toward him, maintaining total control.
“If there’s a point to make, then get to it,” he snarls, not appreciating her bravado.
She smirks, reaching up to run her fingers through his mussed hair. He doesn’t flinch, and neither does she. It’s the ultimate standoff, one which won’t end pretty.
“They’re not afteryou, darling,” she mocks. His lips part, but she yanks his head back, refusing him speech. “They’re afterher.”
And there it is. The truth wrapped in a big red bow.
“Wh-what? Why?” Alek’s stutter is an uncommon occurrence. This can only mean one thing—he believes her.
With her fingers still threaded in Alek’s hair, Zoey turns over her shoulder, pinning me with nothing but hatred as she declares, “Because she is the one who brought down a kingdom, and now…it’s her turn to pay.”
Day 92
“YOU LIE,” ALEKsnarls, seconds from imploding.
“No. I’m not.” When Zoey releases Alek, he launches for her, furious she had the gall to manhandle him.
But she doesn’t flinch.
“How dare you come here! Leave. You’re not welcome.” Alek clutches Zoey’s bicep, jerking her in warning.
She stands on tippy toes, glaring without a trace of fear. “I am the onlyfriend, and I use that word loosely, you have. Let go of me.”
There is no way this will end without one of us getting hurt because after what she just confessed, I realize she is the reason for all of this. “You did this,” I snarl with pure spite. “You are to blame. Saint did all of this for nothing. And it’s your fault. He is god knows where, and it’s because of you.”
Alek freezes, watching me closely. He knows I am seconds away from killing her with my bare hands.
“If it wasn’t for me, he’d be dead,” she says without remorse. Yes, she may be right, but where he is now with Oscar holding him prisoner—is this the lesser of two evils? “Don’t you dare act a martyr.”
During this ordeal, I blamed myself, believing Saint blew himself up to save me, but this entire time, it was her. It doesn’t lessen the part I played in all of this, but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had she not intervened?
We will never know.
Even though I despise her with every morsel of my soul, I inhale deeply. Looking at the crucifix attached to the brick wall, I ask for strength and hope this is the right thing to do.
“Alek, let her go,” I spit, unbelieving I’m defending her. “You’re wasting time.”
